Heart, guts and other huge anatomical parts

Big heart and other sizeable parts of the anatomy were the characteristics Johnny Sexton’s team-mates Bundee Aki and Dan Leavy described as they paid tribute to their fly-half’s Six Nations last-gasp, match-winning drop goal against France on Saturday.

Ireland were in a hole, trailing 13-12 with less than three minutes remaining after French wing Teddy Thomas had scored a wonderful solo try, the only one of the game, to leave the visitors staring down the barrel of an opening-day defeat for the second year in a row.

Yet after a great team effort to manoeuvre the ball from inside their own 22 to the French 10-metre line after Anthony Belleau had missed a crucial penalty kick for the home side, it was Sexton’s long-range drop goal which saved the day and Leavy was mightily grateful.